The UK government has launched a new campaign warning international students not to overstay their visas, stressing that those who remain illegally will face removal.

According to reports, the Home Office has begun contacting students directly by text and email for the first time. Around 10,000 students whose visas are about to expire have already received warnings, with tens of thousands more expected to be contacted in the coming months as the autumn intake begins.

The message states, “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”

It further warns that asylum claims “lacking merit” will be “swiftly and robustly refused.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that some students were exploiting the asylum system, applying for refugee status despite no changes in their home countries.

“We obviously will do our bit to support genuine refugees. But if nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course,” Cooper said.

Official figures show that asylum claims from people who originally entered on student visas hit 16,000 in 2024, nearly six times higher than in 2020, making students the largest group of visa holders applying for asylum after their leave expired.

Overall, 41,100 asylum applications in the year to June 2025 came from people who had entered legally with visas, compared to 43,600 applications from people arriving via small boats across the Channel.

Although asylum applications from students have fallen by 10% this year, ministers remain concerned about the pressure on asylum housing, including widespread use of hotels.

The UK has also tightened post-study visa rules, cutting the maximum period graduates can stay after completing their courses from two years to 18 months.

Erizia Rubyjeana 

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